THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TROUT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TROUT.

$ AUCKLAND CRITICISM. IBr Telegraph.—Special CorrcenondenU Auckland, January 24. The Government's trout-netting industry, which has been criticised by tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. M. Wilftird) as being against tho interests of fly fishers, was discussed with a reporter yesterday by some Auclilanders who aro ■interested in tho subject. Mr. Wilford's contention was wholly upheld. According to what, was said, it seems that tho anglers have all along felt that tho netting lias' seriously affected their sport. Ihe mouths of tho streams aro'tho spats where the-lisli' most do congregate, and where tho fly fishers naturally expect that their gentle efforts will be best rewarded.. It is stated that when the nets of tho State have been a few times 'drawn the anglers will have to labour tho long day through and be satisfied with but small baskets instead of the larger hauls that the famo of tho lake and its actual numerous population lead them to oxpect. Although tho fishers have felt upset by tho depletion of tho I'iver mouths, they have so far done nothing. Anglers "upon fishing bent" are peaceful persons, too intent upon tho manipulation of their tackle and the solection of tho exactly right fly to bother about embroiling themselves in anything lileo a petty warfare with the authorities, and so each man who. has felt, aggrieved'has left the' affair for someone elso to settle. As to tho trout that tho Government takes with its nets, some of it is sold fresh, and some of it is smoked. Anyone can buy it upon sending to the Engineer-in-Chargo (Mr. Birks), at Rotorua; but this sending to Mr. Birks at Rotorua is just tho point wlioro thero seems to be a weakness in tho system. Presumably tho Tourist Department, which, is dealing for tho nonce in fish, desires to sell as much as possible, and it has naturally been expected that in Auckland at all events —this city being an important and convenient market for any food—some local 'representative would bo appointed to take orders and to distribute the trout; but there is no local dealer. People who apply to any of :tho:.Governrocnt .officiate are referred' to Mr. Birks, and they either have to take as much trouble to. get 41b. of fish as a dealer would to get a to.n, or else they must cat schnapper. Nor is tho trout cheap enough to make them over eager to buy with so much trouble, aiid that very dcarness apparently 'keeps tho city dealers from extending their businesses to include a trout counter. Not much of the trout appears to be reaching Auckland, though it is impossible to discover the quantity from any local' authority, but some of tho people who have taken tho trouble to procure it have spoken very highly of its excellence in both the fresh and the smoked forms. Whether duo to ignorance of. tho supply or to tlw high prices charged, the number of inquiries made for the fish have not been large.